This portable telescope has a mahogany barrel, a single brass draw tube and a two-lens eyepiece with a sliding cover. The objective lens probably once had a brass cap (now missing).

The maker's name is inscribed on the draw tube as 'Mrs Janet Taylor, 104, Minories, London'. Janet Taylor (1804-70) was a gifted astronomer and author and was one of the very few women working as scientific instrument makers in London in the 19th century. She also made NAV1582.

Looking through the telescope, the image produced is upside down, indicating that it was intended either for astronomical use or for use at night. The addition of an extra lens to produce an image the right way up would have given a darker and more distorted image, which was not desirable for observations of the night sky.